Salary: $28.00 per hour

About the role

As a Shelter Life Coach, you'll work alongside families experiencing homelessness as they take the next steps toward stable housing and greater self-sufficiency. You'll provide compassionate, strengths-based support while helping participants navigate barriers, connect with resources, and achieve their housing and employment goals.

Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive family assessments, including screening, intake, and placement into emergency shelter, to ensure families are connected with the services that best meet their needs.
• Partner with YWCA Employment Services staff to develop individualized family development plans that support both housing stability and employment goals.
• Meet regularly with assigned families to provide ongoing coaching, coordinate services, help navigate community resources, remove barriers to permanent housing, and celebrate progress toward goals.
• Apply best practices in housing navigation and case management through a culturally responsive, trauma-informed, and strengths-based approach.
• Facilitate life skills classes and educational workshops that equip participants with the knowledge and practical skills needed to achieve housing stability, financial independence, and long-term success.
• Build and maintain positive working relationships with partner hotels and motels to support smooth shelter operations and ensure families have a safe, respectful experience.
• Participate actively in supervision, team meetings, case consultations, and ongoing professional development.
• Collaborate with colleagues across YWCA programs, including Children and Youth Services, Gender-Based Violence Intervention and Prevention, Economic Advancement, and Health and Safety, to provide coordinated, holistic support for families.
• Develop and maintain partnerships with schools, healthcare providers, government agencies, landlords, employers, and other community organizations to expand resources and improve outcomes for participants.
• Maintain accurate, timely, and complete case documentation in accordance with agency, funder, and program requirements.
• Contribute to a welcoming, inclusive, and equitable workplace by actively participating in the YWCA's Race and Social Justice Initiative (RSJI) and incorporating equity and anti-racism principles into daily work with participants, colleagues, and community partners.

Requirements

• At least 2 years of direct social service experience, including 1 year working with low-income and/or homeless families and/or victims of domestic violence, OR a Bachelor's Degree with at least 1 year of direct social service experience working with low-income and/or homeless families.
• Demonstrated knowledge and skills of basic computer competencies such as emailing, calendaring, entry-level data entry, and familiarity with Microsoft Office products.
• Knowledge of available resources in Seattle-King County for low-income/homeless families.
• Knowledge of mental health, drug, and alcohol issues preferred.
• Experience working with communities of color and people from different cultures than your own.
• Valid Washington State Driver License, personal vehicle, insurance, and an acceptable driving record.
• Ability and willingness to work independently and as part of a team.

Qualifications

Core Competencies Expected: Initiative, Collaboration, Achieving Measurable Results, Ethics and Integrity, Problem Solving, Race & Social Justice Advocacy, Fostering Diversity.

Benefits

• Excellent benefits package including medical insurance, retirement plan, plus generous vacation, holiday, and sick leave plans.
• Retirement Benefit: Employees may become eligible to participate in the YWCA Retirement Fund after meeting hours-worked requirements.

Pay

Hourly Starting Pay Rate: $28.00 per hour. Status: Full-Time, 40 hours per week. Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) Classification: Non-Exempt position.

Schedule

Travel may account for up to 50% of the work schedule. Frequently travel throughout King and Snohomish counties using a personal vehicle to meet with participants, landlords, community partners, and service providers.